Town of Banff

Racer ready? Banff partners with Canmore to host 2014 Alberta Winter Games

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Banff, AB – Two destinations with plenty of experience in hosting big events have been selected to produce the 2014 Alberta Winter Games, it was announced this morning. Janis Tarchuk, MLA for Banff-Cochrane made the announcement on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, which administers the games through the  Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

The Town of Banff, the site of the inaugural Alberta Winter Games in 1976, and the Town of Canmore, a venue city of the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games, will be playing host to more than 2,600 young Albertan athletes and coaches, as well as their parents, in February, 2014.

“We are honoured to be selected as hosts,” said Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen, who was at the announcement at Lawrence Grassi Middle School in Canmore. “We are committed to creating and delivering an outstanding games for Alberta’s young athletes, coaches and parents; 2014 will be one of the most memorable games in this province’s history.”

Planning for and staging the games is another example of the way the two communities work together to strengthen the Bow Valley’s economic sustainability, said Mayor Sorensen. Banff and Canmore have also partnered recently on the province’s first regional transit commission, and on completing the Canmore connection of the Legacy Trail, a 26-km multi-use trail in Banff  National Park.

The two communities complement each other in many ways, she added, and with the combined facilities, venues, cultural offerings and expertise in sports tourism, it made great sense to team up on this project as well. “Both communities will benefit from co-hosting,” she said, “not only economically by showcasing the Bow Valley, but also in building volunteerism and pride in the community.” 

The 2014 Alberta Games will run from February 6 to 9.


Media Contact:
Diana Waltmann, Manager of Communications
Town of Banff
Direct: 403.762.1207  Cel: 403.431-2307
Email: diana.waltmann@banff.ca
www.banff.ca